The Secret Ingredient (17 page)

‘Wait a minute,' Toby declared. ‘She walked in on them at the apartment, didn't she? That's why she doesn't want to go back there.'

‘Brilliant deduction, Dr Watson.'

‘What sort of a fuckw—'

‘Toby!' Donna chastised. ‘Still, why would he take a girl back to their apartment? That's . . . well, it's just wrong. And it's a little creepy.'

‘A little?' Jess said wryly. ‘He tried to blame it on the girl somehow . . .' She held her hands up in defeat. ‘I gave up trying to follow the logic.'

‘Does Andie believe him?' Toby asked her.

‘No . . . and yes, I think, a little,' said Jess. ‘She's not excusing what he did, but she's partly blaming herself because she wanted a baby and he didn't, and it was causing friction between them.'

‘So it's all right for him to go and have an affair?' said Toby. ‘Fuck that.'

‘You said it.'

‘I have to talk to her —'

‘No!' Donna blurted.

‘Why not?' Toby glanced at her.

‘Well,' she said, thinking about it, ‘Andie didn't want us to know, and not just to save Ross's face, but maybe to save her own as well. Rightly or wrongly, she's probably embarrassed, and humiliated. We should let her hold on to her dignity.'

They drove on in silence for a couple of blocks.

‘I just don't know if I can sit back and do nothing,' said Toby after a while. ‘I don't trust the bloke. She's just lost her dad, she's grieving, she's more vulnerable, he could so easily take advantage.'

‘Well, she was on her way to see a real estate agent when she got the call about her dad,' said Jess. ‘She was looking for a place of her own. Let's hope she still goes through with that.'

‘She's welcome to stay with us as long as she likes,' said Donna. ‘We'll have to make sure she knows that.'

‘That's really good of you guys,' said Jess, ‘but it's still a temporary arrangement, and it makes it easier for her to go back to Ross anytime. Getting her own place is a more permanent step, I wouldn't talk her out of it.'

‘She's right, Donna,' said Toby. ‘The best way we can help Andie is to do everything we can to help her to find her own place.'

It was strange coming back to the house. Andie hadn't been able to face it before now. Neville had had the presence of mind to go over a few days before the funeral and clear out any perishable foodstuffs, take rubbish out to the bins and put them on the kerb for collection. Then he made sure the house was secure, checked that all the windows were closed and locked, that sort of thing.

Today Andie was meeting Meredith to begin ‘discussions'. Her car was already here, parked in the driveway. Andie left hers out front and walked up the path to the house. She had a key, but she didn't know whether she should knock. This was weird.

She ended up doing both, just as she'd always done when she visited her father – a knock to announce herself before letting herself in.

Meredith appeared at the end of the hall. ‘You're here.'

Was it always going to be so awkward between them? Andie walked towards her as Meredith put her hands on her hips, surveying the living room. ‘I only got here a few minutes ago,' she said. ‘I've been looking around, there's so much to sort through.'

Andie nodded. ‘A lifetime's.'

‘Just look at this room,' Meredith went on, ‘it's barely changed in twenty years.'

‘Except for that,' Andie said, cocking her head at the television.

‘What was he thinking?' said Meredith. ‘It's so gauche.'

Andie wouldn't have used that particular term, but at least they agreed on something.

‘Why don't I make us a cuppa?' Andie suggested.

‘I'd love one, but there's no milk.'

‘Yes there is,' said Andie, lifting a carton out of her bag.

At least that brought a smile to Meredith's face. They made the tea and sat at the kitchen table, facing each other.

‘Well,' Meredith began, ‘I assume you agree the house should be sold?'

Andie nodded, sipping her tea.

‘But we can't put it on the market like this. It's going to have to be cleaned out sooner or later, so I think it's better if it's done before it goes up for sale.' She paused. ‘I just don't know where I'm going to find the time . . .'

Meredith prattled on about her busy life and the kids' busy lives and Neville's busy life but Andie wasn't really listening. She was having an epiphany of sorts.

‘I'll do it,' she said suddenly, interrupting Meredith's monologue.

‘What?'

‘I'll do it,' she repeated. ‘I'll clean the place out, get it ready for sale.'

‘Well, granted, you have more time than I do,' said Meredith. ‘But you live on the other side of the bridge, how often will you be able to get over here? I don't want this to drag on.'

‘No, I'm saying I'll move in for the duration.'

Meredith was frowning. ‘What will your husband have to say about that?'

Oops.

‘Look, it's only temporary,' said Andie. ‘Ross works such long hours, he travels, and I can always spend the weekends with him. I don't know, we'll play it by ear.'

‘But what about your shop? It's a long way to travel back and forth every day.'

‘Oh, I've been pulling back from the day-to-day running of the shop lately.' Andie had managed to staff the shop almost entirely without needing to be there, ever since her father's death, and even the days leading up to it. Jess was already acting as manager, Andie only had to drop in, do the pays, oversee the ordering, but really, Jess could handle all that now anyway. ‘I have enough staff to run the place, I don't need to be there all the time.'

Meredith was regarding her suspiciously. ‘I hope you don't think that this will give you squatter's rights.'

Andie groaned inwardly. ‘Of course not, Meredith.'

‘I just think we should be upfront,' she said. ‘If things aren't said out loud there can be a lot of misunderstandings. People get weird after a death in the family, you know.'

Yes, Andie was certainly getting that idea.

‘So when is the reading of the will?' she asked.

‘I made an appointment for next Wednesday,' said Meredith, taking out her Blackberry and clicking on the screen. ‘Ten am. Does that suit you?'

Bad luck if it didn't; she'd gone ahead and made the appointment without asking first. ‘Suits me fine,' said Andie.

‘Well, ladies, I think you'll find the will is quite straightforward,' said Mr Hodge, after giving them both a copy to look over. ‘Your father changed it after the death of your mother, and I believe his circumstances have remained the same ever since. He wasn't a wealthy man, but he was very secure financially. He'd invested wisely for his retirement, so there are shares and fixed investments to be distributed. And I'm sure you're aware that the family home is quite a valuable piece of property, given its location.'

‘Did he take his grandchildren into account?' Meredith asked, flicking through the papers.

‘Yes he did. If you look over on page two, he has set up a trust fund for both Philippa and Tristan, which they can access at age twenty-one. Apart from that, he made several modest bequests, to the church, and to a couple of Catholic charities. But the bulk of the estate is to be divided equally between the two of you.'

Meredith and Andie continued to scan the papers in front of them.

‘I think you'll find this is a textbook scenario,' said Mr Hodge. ‘But please don't hesitate to contact me anytime if you have any questions.'

Meredith seemed irritated, Andie could see it in her body language. When their business was complete, she charged out of the office with a curt goodbye and was standing waiting at the lifts, her arms crossed, tapping her foot, when Andie caught up with her.

‘It's nice that he set up that trust fund for the kids,' Andie ventured to say.

Meredith snorted. ‘It won't even buy them a car by the time they reach twenty-one.'

Which was more than either of them were given at that age.

‘I would have thought that he'd want to contribute to his only grandchildren's education at least,' she added. ‘Considering how important education was to them. I'm sure Mum would have insisted had she been alive.'

‘If Mum was alive, it would be a moot point,' Andie reminded her. ‘The estate would all go to her.'

Meredith just humphed in reply. The lift doors opened and they stepped in. Meredith pressed the button for the ground floor and Andie turned to her as the doors closed.

‘Meredith, is there a problem?'

‘What do you mean?'

‘Well, I think we're both going to end up with a very generous sum after the house is sold and everything's worked out. I'm sure it will cover the kids' education, and a whole lot more besides.'

‘What's your point?'

Andie hesitated. ‘Is there something you're not telling me?'

‘What?'

‘Well, is everything all right . . . financially?'

Meredith's head spun around, her eyes ablaze. ‘What are you implying?'

‘Nothing, I —'

‘How dare you!' she boomed. ‘In case you'd forgotten, or more likely haven't been paying attention, Neville is the executive director in charge of Australasian operations, and I am a senior director of the research facility.'

‘Then I don't understand why you seem to be upset about the will. I think it's fair.'

‘Of course you think it's fair,' she sniped, ‘because you've always expected to have everything handed to you on a platter.'

Andie was bewildered. ‘What exactly have I had handed to me on a platter?'

‘Oh please, you've barely worked a day in your life, Andrea,' said Meredith, crossing her arms. ‘You steal someone else's husband, and then make hay on the proceeds, pottering about in your little hobby shop that apparently you don't even have to show up at every day.'

‘Even if that were true,' Andie said, trying to keep calm, ‘why does it bother you so much? What have I done to make you so angry, Meredith?'

She shook her head. ‘Nothing, Andrea. You have done absolutely nothing. While I have had to work hard for every single thing I've achieved,' she said. ‘I actually completed
my
university degree. Then I worked my way up in my career, as did Neville, and we gave Mum and Dad their only two grandchildren, while you carried on an affair with a married man almost twice your age. Thank God Mum didn't live to see that. You have sailed through life using your looks as a meal ticket. But you should realise that looks fade, Andrea, and that husband of yours left one wife when something younger and prettier came along, don't think he won't do the same thing to you.'

‘He already has.'

‘What?'

‘Ross has been having an affair,' Andie said plainly. ‘And I've left him.' The lift doors opened and she stepped out.

Meredith followed her, looking a little dazed. ‘That's why you want to stay in the house.'

‘Meredith!'

‘Don't be offended, Andrea,' she returned. ‘I was wondering why you were so keen. Now I understand, that's all.'

Andie shook her head. ‘No, Meredith, I don't think you understand the slightest thing about me,' she said, before she turned on her heel and walked away.

Tasha stood glaring at Ross, her hands planted on her hips. ‘How long is she going to keep using the excuse of her father dying? She knows about us now. Does she really think she can hang on to you forever?'

She was so over this limbo they were living in at the moment. Ross spent most nights with her, so she wanted to know why they were keeping two apartments, why they couldn't move in together, to either her place or his, Tasha didn't care. Though, Ross still had to pay the mortgage on his apartment regardless, whereas if Tasha gave up her apartment, she wouldn't have to pay rent any more. That seemed like the most sensible way to go. According to Ross, his wife was refusing point-blank to ever set foot in the apartment again, so why should it just sit there empty most of the time?

‘Tash, this is a sensitive time,' Ross was saying. ‘We have to be patient for just a little while longer. Andie was going to the reading of the will today. If that turns out as I expect it to, she's going to be a lot better off, and that puts us in a better position.'

‘What do you mean,
she
will be a lot better off?' said Tasha. ‘You're entitled to half her assets as well. You're still married.'

Ross looked uneasy. ‘I don't know, Tash, it doesn't feel right to go for a share of her father's estate.'

‘Why? She'd take it from you if it was the other way around, in a shot.'

‘My parents are long gone, Tash.'

‘That's not the point. It sounds to me like what's yours is half hers, while what's hers is all hers.'

‘Look, I've been through this before,' he said, ‘and I don't want that shitfight all over again.'

‘So you expect me to just wait around?' she demanded. ‘For how long, Ross?'

‘For as long as it takes,' he said, raising his voice.

Tasha didn't like it one bit. ‘Well, what if I'm not prepared to do that?'

‘Look, I don't know what you expect of me,' he said angrily. ‘I couldn't have foreseen her father dying.'

‘Fine, but enough's enough. She knows about us now. I don't understand what you're hiding from.'

‘I'm not hiding from anything, I just don't think it's appropriate right now.'

‘I'm so fucking sick of hearing that word!' she cried, her head starting to pound.

‘Look, you were prepared to be patient before,' he said. ‘I'm really beginning to wonder what your motives are here.'

‘What exactly are you saying, Ross?'

‘You know what I'm saying.'

She narrowed her eyes. ‘Well, why don't you just spell it out?'

‘If Andie hadn't found us that night . . .'

‘You'd be happy for us to still be sneaking around?' she finished for him. ‘How long do you think I would have put up with that?'

‘You agreed at the time, for as long as it would take.'

‘But things have changed. She knows about us,' Tasha insisted for what felt like the billionth time. ‘The shit has already hit the fan. So what are we waiting for? Let's just move in together and take it from there.'

He turned his back on her and walked over to the window. He was clenching his forehead, the way he did when he was frustrated.

‘You don't even know if you want to move in together, do you?' she accused him. ‘You talked the talk while you could fuck me on demand. Now you're getting cold feet when the only thing in the way of us being together is out of the way. I have to wonder if you ever planned to leave her for me.'

She waited for him to protest, to argue the point, something. But he just stood there at the window, perfectly still.

‘Get out, Ross.'

‘What?' He turned around.

‘I'm not going to be used like this any more.' She walked over to the door and held it open. ‘Get out.'

‘Tasha . . .'

‘I mean it, Ross,' she said coldly. ‘When you make up your mind what you want, then give me a call. Though I can't promise I'll pick up.'